The construction works for future premises of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) in Masaka, Kicukiro District are in advance stages as plans for relocation from current location in Nyarugenge District are also underway.

The new facility is about 80 per cent complete, Alphonse Rukaburandekwe, the Director General of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), told The New Times.

ALSO READ: Eight things to know about CHUK hospital relocation

The Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana told Parliament on January 16 that CHUK would be relocated to Masaka between June and August this year.

The hospital, whose construction began in early 2023, will be ready by end of July this year, according to officials.

ALSO READ: CHUK relocation construction ongoing

With the capacity of more than 830 beds, the new CHUK hospital, which will occupy the current premises of the Masaka Hospital, will be the biggest general and university teaching hospital in Rwanda. The current facility in Nyarugenge has 400 beds.

The new facility will have the capacity of 2,000 patients per day.

It will also include medical staff quarters and a small airfield for emergency helicopters.

The Minister of Health told MPs that the relocation of certain CHUK hospital services will begin immediately after construction is finished.

He also emphasized that the relocation will be a gradual process, as moving a hospital involves more than just transferring physical infrastructure.

"You are also relocating services, which requires careful planning. People need to be informed; the hospital must be fully equipped; and all services should be operational without delays,” Dr Nsanzimana said.

He said some services will continue operating at the current facility, as the relocation process will be ongoing.